Well done to Sue who today led her 200th Breeze ride.😇
Sue is away a lot on holiday, but when she is home, she generally offers 2 rides each week. A great commitment. It's only since I came home that I realise that no one made any kind of congratulatory speech! Sorry Sue, it was all a bit chaotic at the cafe with 27 attendees today! But wonderful to have such a turnout to support you.
A few non riders also joined us, who are unable to ride atm, namely Jill B, Daphne and Amy, as well as a few others who made their way by car too, like Rose and Nicky W.
We have made a special effort on the occasion of 100th rides in the past, making photo cards for everyone to sign. But its all become a lot more difficult now with so many leaders and riders, and collating photographs that are meaning to a particular leader takes a lot of work. The good company of so many lovely fellow riders is enough of a celebration. So thanks to all for coming along today.
With those kind of numbers, we obviously cycled in groups, with 4 local leaders free today, and Julie from Maidenhead also assisted Sue. Our routes all started at Cantley, and were heading to Esquires at Bucklers Park in Crowthorne. I shared my route with Caroline and Gill, but Sue went off in Shurlock Row direction then to Binfield and Bracknell.
Gill opted to start my route a few miles in, at Sindlesham, since closer to her home, and so she was about 15mins ahead of us. Sue's route was a little shorter too, so it worked out well that those 2 groups arrived first to get their orders in , rather than everyone turn up at the same time.
Caroline is not confident enough to lead in this area, since her home is Bagshot direction, but had my route to shadow me, generally within site. That worked well on this route, since much of it was quiet lanes or tracks.
 |
| Caroline and my group travelling together nr Arborfield, before we joined Swallowield Road. Nikki, Caroline, Annie, Caroline, Geraldine, Denise, Amanda T Sandra and Karen. My camera was on the wrong setting of burst mode. agh. (That's with wearing thicker gloves today, with fat fingers.) Really annoying, since these photos are not as sharp as would otherwise be. |
 |
| As I was taking the group photo, this horse and rider appeared. The rider offered to take a group photo with me in! 😂 |
I said, no but thanks. But would she like to join our group photo with the horse? I was actually joking, but she said yes, and I even got her to turn the horse around to face the other way. If you don't ask, you don't get! 😅
 |
| As before.... plus horse and rider. 😆 |
From Arborfield, we climbed over Farley Hill on Castle Hill. A good warm up! Then downhill to Hogwood area. A short section on Nine Mile Ride, to climb up White Horse Lane, then another down and up to emerge opposite Dell Road. A lovely long downhill next on Wellingtonia Avenue, where there was a lovely scent of Pine Trees.
 |
| Organised Chaos! (NB photo bomb by Rose in the background ) |
 |
| Kim chatting to Denise, sitting next to Caroline. |
 |
| Leader Gill wearing her newly delivered Breeze top for the first time. (Head office said they could send her a "man's Medium", as stocks are low. There are no MEN on Breeze rides. What were they talking about!) Left, Jeanette, Amy, Rose, Gill, Louise, Sally. |
 |
| Diane, Kate, Kirsten, Joy, Julie, Wendy. |
 |
| Denise, Sandra, Amanda T, Me, Daphne, Geraldine, Caroline (with stiff neck!) |
 |
| Jill (who drove but wore her teeshirt), Julie, Hazel H, Sue, Nikki, Caroline, Annie |
 |
| Daphne was driven here by Jill. Poor Daphne been out of action with severe post shingles pain for over 3 months.  |
Gill's group set off first, and the rest of us moments later. We were basically all now heading back to Wokingham via Gorrick Woods. Sue, set off leading, but as we crossed Nine Mile Ride, I stopped the traffic for us all to cross then Caroline, Sue and I all got at the back. Was nice to be led back by Julie!
Photos above by Julie who was at the front.
Nice to see everyone and hope you all enjoyed the morning. Too many to speak to everyone, but will see you all in more manageable groups again next week.
